ExpressVPN's only free trial is a 3-day trial on iOS and Android, started inside the app you download from the App Store or Google Play. If you sign up on the ExpressVPN website instead, there's no free trial: you pay up front and first-time customers can ask for a full refund within 30 days. ExpressVPN says plainly that it doesn't offer a 30-day free trial.
This is one of the most misunderstood trials I get asked about, because ExpressVPN's own pages call both routes a trial. They work in opposite ways. The app route doesn't charge you until the trial ends. The website route charges you on day one and refunds you if you ask in time. Pick the wrong one for your situation and you'll either lose the refund or pay before you meant to.
The two ways to try ExpressVPN, side by side
| 3-day app trial | 30-day refund guarantee | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you start | ExpressVPN app from the App Store or Google Play | ExpressVPN website |
| Charged up front? | No, billing starts after the trial | Yes, at the time of purchase |
| Length | 3 days | Exactly 30 days from your order |
| Who bills you | Apple or Google | ExpressVPN |
| Who decides refunds | Apple or Google, at their discretion | ExpressVPN, full refund for first-time users |
| How many times | Google Play says the trial can be used once | First-time subscribers only |
Who qualifies for each one
The app trial
ExpressVPN says the 3-day trial is available only on iOS and Android, by signing up for a plan inside the app. Its Google Play support page adds the detail most people miss: some plans include the trial, you can only sign up for it once, and you need a valid payment method in the Play Store to start it. You'll also need Android 7.0 or higher to buy inside the Android app.
The 30-day refund guarantee
ExpressVPN's terms say the guarantee applies to new subscribers only. Its guarantee page goes further: users who have previously had a refund, or payment accounts that have previously been refunded, aren't eligible. So if you claimed a refund once before, even on a different email address, using the same card can rule you out.
The catches buried in the terms
- App store purchases never get the 30-day guarantee. ExpressVPN's terms say anyone who subscribes through the Apple App Store or Google Play doesn't have access to it, and refunds are up to Apple or Google.
- Renewals aren't covered by the 30-day guarantee, and neither are purchases made with redemption codes such as gift cards.
- Changing your order doesn't restart the clock. Upgrading to a longer plan or adding licences doesn't create a new 30-day period.
- Some promotions exclude the guarantee. ExpressVPN says promotional campaigns with extras like giveaways can be incompatible with it, and the promo terms will say so.
- Google Play billing continues unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends or the next billing cycle begins.
There's one piece of good news hidden in the FAQ: ExpressVPN says that if a subscription renews and you didn't intend it to, you have 14 days from the moment it renews to get a full refund. That's separate from the 30-day guarantee, and it's worth knowing if you forget to switch off auto-renewal.
What you get while you're trying it
ExpressVPN describes the trial as the full product, not a cut-down demo. Its trial page lists 256-bit AES encryption, the Internet Kill Switch, server locations in 113 countries and its Lightway protocol. Device limits depend on the plan you choose: the pricing page shows 10 simultaneous devices on Basic, 12 on Advanced and 14 on Express Pro, and ExpressVPN says your device allowance stays the same during the trial and afterwards.
Before you choose, it's worth reading whether ExpressVPN is safe and how it stacks up in NordVPN vs ExpressVPN.
How to cancel the 3-day trial on Android
ExpressVPN's Google Play page gives these steps. Do them at least 24 hours before the trial ends:
- Open the Play Store app, signed in to the Google account you used for the trial.
- Tap your profile icon at the top right.
- Tap Payments and subscriptions, then Subscriptions.
- Select ExpressVPN.
- Tap Cancel subscription.
You can keep using ExpressVPN until the last day of the trial after you cancel. On iPhone, the trial is billed by Apple, so you cancel it in your Apple subscriptions rather than with ExpressVPN.
How to cancel and claim a refund on a website plan
- Sign in to your ExpressVPN account.
- To stop renewal, go to My Account, choose My Subscription and follow the Cancel Subscription prompts.
- To claim a refund inside 30 days, open your receipts in the Account and Billing menu to see payments eligible for a refund, or contact support by live chat or email.
- Watch the exact time. ExpressVPN says an order placed at 8 a.m. on July 1 can be refunded any time before 8 a.m. on July 31.
Cancelling renewal and claiming the refund are two different things. Turning off auto-renewal alone won't refund you.
Which route should you choose?
If you only want to check that ExpressVPN works on your phone and with the apps you use day to day, the 3-day app trial is the low-risk option, as long as you cancel a full day early. If you want to test it on a laptop, a smart TV and a router over a few weeks, buy on the website and use the 30-day window, because that's the route with a refund you control. I'd avoid buying inside the app if you think you might want a refund later, because that decision then sits with Apple or Google, not ExpressVPN.
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Still shopping around between providers? Read our Surfshark prices guide for a rival's plans and renewals.
My advice
There's no long free trial of ExpressVPN, whatever adverts suggest. You get 3 free days on mobile, or 30 days to ask for your payment back if you buy direct and you're a first-time customer. Put a reminder in your calendar the day you sign up, and if it's the website route, set it for day 25 so you're not racing the clock.
Once you've decided to stay, our ExpressVPN prices guide sets out how the plan lengths and tiers differ.
Frequently asked questions
Does ExpressVPN have a free trial?
Yes, but only a 3-day free trial on iOS and Android, started inside the ExpressVPN app from the App Store or Google Play.
Is there a 30-day ExpressVPN free trial?
No. ExpressVPN says it doesn't offer a 30-day free trial. First-time customers who buy on its website can request a full refund within 30 days instead.
Do app store subscribers get the 30-day refund?
No. ExpressVPN says subscriptions bought through the Apple App Store or Google Play aren't covered, and refunds are at Apple's or Google's discretion.
When should I cancel the ExpressVPN trial on Android?
At least 24 hours before the trial ends, in the Play Store under Payments and subscriptions, then Subscriptions, then ExpressVPN.
Can I get a refund if ExpressVPN renews by mistake?
ExpressVPN says that if your subscription renews and you didn't intend it to, you have 14 days from the renewal to get a full refund.
